Millikin University will welcome rock group Motion City Soundtrack to the Kirkland stage on Thursday, March 21 at 8 p.m. for the annual University Center Board (UCB) Big Event.

A leading light in the punk-pop genre, Motion City Soundtrack, from Minneapolis, Minn., includes members Joshua Cain (guitar), Tony Thaxton (drums), Justin Pierre (vocals/guitar), Jesse Johnson (Moog), and Matthew Taylor (bass). Motion City Soundtrack has released five studio albums and sold almost 600,000 records throughout their career, including over half a million in the United States alone.

The group formed in 1997, and following several years of constant touring, Motion City Soundtrack was picked up by Epitaph Records. Epitaph re-released the group's debut album, "I Am the Movie," in 2003 which led to the band's big break. Their first major single from the album, "The Future Freaks Me Out," arrived with live and television success. The band's second album, "Commit This to Memory," was released in 2005 and has been their most successful album to date. The album sold over 285,000 records and peaked at number two on the Independent Albums chart. The album featured the single, "Everything Is Alright," which also found success on the likes of MTV.

The band released their third full-length album, "Even If It Kills Me," in 2007. The album debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Independent Albums chart. By the following summer, Motion City Soundtrack had signed a new contract with Columbia Records. Their first album released on Columbia in January 2010, entitled "My Dinosaur Life," debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200. Motion City Soundtrack's fifth studio album, "Go," was released on June 12, 2012 in a joint effort between Epitaph Records and the band's own label, The Boombox Generation.

Motion City Soundtrack will be joined by opening act Quiet Corral, a six-piece band from Lawrence, Kan. The band incorporates folk and pop elements into their music to create a distinct sound. With four-part harmonies, electric guitars mixed with acoustic instruments and intricate rhythms, Quiet Corral creates something new and interesting for music listeners. For more information on Quiet Corral, visit www.quietcorral.com.

The UCB is Millikin University's student-run programming board, comprised of 12 student executive board members and staff advisors with the responsibility to plan, promote, execute, and evaluate student events and activities. UCB plans a variety of annual events for students to enjoy, including Fall Family Weekend, the Pancake Breakfast, Millipalooza, and Springfest. In addition, the UCB brings a nationally recognized band to campus each spring to entertain the community. Past artists have included All Time Low, Sara Bareilles, OneRepublic, The Roots, O.A.R., and Jason Mraz.

In order to maintain appropriate decorum and an atmosphere that encourages respect, Kirkland Fine Arts Center asks patrons to honor the following requests:

• All bags are subject to search
• No photography, audio taping, or videography
• No alcohol, drugs, tobacco products, or smoking of any kind
• No re-admittance once inside the theater

Patrons who do not follow the above requests or those who display inappropriate or illegal behavior will be ejected from the facility.

Tickets for the event are $20 for the general public and $15 for Millikin University faculty & staff. Millikin University students will receive one free ticket and can purchase five additional tickets for $15 each. Tickets may be purchased at the Kirkland Fine Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 217.424.6318 or online at www.kirklandfinearts.com. A $2.50 fee will be charged for credit card purchases. This is a per transaction fee, not per ticket, and applies to online and Box Office orders. Kirkland Box Office hours are Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Beginning Monday, Feb. 18 through Wednesday, Feb. 27, Millikin University students can pick up their free ticket. Starting Feb. 27 through Saturday, March 2, Millikin University faculty & staff can purchase their $15 ticket. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, March 4. The Kirkland Fine Arts Center Box Office will be open during Millikin University’s spring break week, Monday, March 11 through Friday, March 15.

For more information on Kirkland Fine Arts Center, please visit www.kirklandfinearts.com. Events at the Kirkland Fine Arts Center are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the Midwest Arts Council.